Page 147 of A Solid Guide to Surviving a Situationship

“You disappeared for months,” she went on. “You cried over someone you barely had for three months like he was the love of your life. That alone is pathetic!”

“You don’t get to decide how long I’m allowed to hurt,” I shot back.

“And. You don’t get to romanticize something that was destroying you,” she fired back.

“That’s not what this is⁠—”

“Isn’t it?” she pressed. “Because from where we’re standing, you went right back to the same person who broke you, without asking for anything in return.”

“I didn’t ask because I didn’t need to,” I said, my voice strong and louder than normal. “Not everything has to be a transaction, Andi.”

“No,” she said. “But it should at least come with respect… for yourself.”

Andre stepped in, his voice lower, but heavier. “James. He didn’t even apologize.”

“I know.”

“And you’re okay with that?” he asked.

“I said I know!” I snapped.

“That’s not an answer,” Andre shot back, stepping closer. “That’s you avoiding it.”

“I’m not avoiding anything⁠—”

“You are,” he cut in. “You’re acting like nothing happened because it’s easier than facing that fact that he chose to hurt you—and you’re still choosing him anyway.”

“That’s not fair,” I said, shaking my head.

“No,” Andre said, jaw tight. “What’s not fair is watching you go through the same thing again when he already had you up the first time.”

Silence.

Mel’s sobs echoed softly through the near-empty street as she stepped away, leaning against the post.

“We are not trying to be the enemy, James,” Andre continued, eyes glassy now. “Know that I will never ever let anyone hurt you.” He glanced at the others. “Not anyone of you.”

Tears streamed down my face at that, because I knew it was true.

“I didn’t ask you to fix me,” I said.

“No,” Andi said sharply. “But…” Her voice broke slightly. “But we watched our best friend fall apart.”

The words hit.

Hard.

At this, Mel looked away completely. Andre swallowed, looking off to the side. Honey crossed her arms, looking down.

“Andi,” I said, voice breaking a little. “I am your very first best friend, and you did this to me?”

Andi stepped forward, close enough that I couldn’t look away.

“I am your very first best friend,” she said, her voice steady and firm, “and that’s exactly why I did this to you.”

Silence fell.

Heavy and unavoidable.